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Update #5: Shipping Container Workshop To Kenya

Posted on August 19, 2011
Howdy,

My friends and I are building a workshop out of a shipping container, and we want your suggestions on equipment.

We'll be sending a 20' shipping container from Austin, Texas to Bungoma, a city in Western Kenya. 
The primary goal will be constructing chambers in which we can create biochar ( http://www.re-char.com ), and we want to make the shop as versatile as possible.

Thus far, we've definitively spent ~$8,000 of our $20,000 budget, mainly on a used plasmacam 4'x4' CNC with 2 plasma cutters, and allocated <20% of our space. 
Here's our list of some proposed equipment: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsejLtLc70nwdG5DeVJmOVA4OUxpcXl6alFaNzh5Unc&hl=en_US
What are we missing that we just shouldn't be without?  
We'll have access to (dirty) grid power, standard industrial building materials, and (slow, expensive) shipping from the West.

Please add your ideas to the spreadsheet and your broader comments below.  
We'll read everything, incorporate the best suggestions, and let you know what our final inventory becomes.  
We need to have our container in transit by the end of the month, so don't delay!

Thanks,

Luke 

Update #4: Thanks, Bad, and Good News

Posted on July 7, 2011

Thanks to all of you for your support. The fact that this project has received no media attention and still garnered 84 people willing to contribute cash to make it happen in less than 30 days means a great deal to me. This is way more confirmation that I'm working on something worthwhile than selling tons of any conventional product (or having a successful Kickstarter with a media blitz) could ever provide.

The bad news: unless some unforeseen miracle happens, the shipping container to off-grid house conversion is not going to reach the funding goal:(

The good news: your support is awesome. Inspiring, in fact: I'm going to make this happen. It'll take longer and look less polished than I hoped, but I'll still get it done. If you'd like to continue your involvement, you can join my new listserv here: http://groups.google.com/group/cratehouse .

Thanks again for your support, and I hope you'll stay involved. I'll need your good ideas and feedback to keep it fun and save me from making way more mistakes!:)

-Luke 

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      Paul Weir on July 7, 2011

      Sorry to hear that you won't be funded, Luke.

      I think it is a very worthwhile project and I will be following your new listserv!

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      Nonolith Labs on July 7, 2011

      Ditto. Sorry to hear that things aren't going to work out, but glad you'll continue your efforts!

    3. Fb_profile_picture.thumb
      Container Home on July 7, 2011

      Luke

      I think that your decision to continue on with this project shows great determination and despite this initial setback you might be surprised by how much you have learn't in the pre-construction and planning phase.

      I wish you ongoing luck with your project

      Victor
      <a title="Shipping Container Homes" href="http://www.containerhome.info">Shipping Container Homes</a>

Update #3: System Mindmap

Posted on June 28, 2011

Hello,

Here's a map of the planned systems for my shipping container conversion.  Please let me know any comments/suggestions; I'll post more detail later this week.

Thanks,

Luke

  • Image-49830-full
    1. Missing_thumb
      John Robinson on June 28, 2011

      COnsider looking into wind turbines that work like a carousel instead of like a airplane engine. I saw something once that suggests these work more efficiently than the airplane style propeller ones.

    2. Squared.thumb
      James Junghanns on July 23, 2011

      Carousel-styled wind turbines are more compact and require less engineering as they do not need to be orientable, but in terms of efficiency the more compex propeller-style wind turbines are superior.

Update #2: 'How To Find A Shipping Container' Instructable

Posted on June 19, 2011

Hello,

I've published the first in what will be a long series of posts forming the basis for the book: how to get a shipping container. The book's posts will provide substantially more detail (and video vs. photos), but this is a good representation of the style in which I'm approaching the project.

I hope you enjoy it; please forward to anyone else who might be interested.

Thanks,

Luke 

    1. Fb_profile_picture.thumb
      Container Home on June 28, 2011

      Congratulations on deciding to take on this project.

      I have made a small pledge - I would consider offering some more if the project gets traction - I understand that dependent on getting $15,000 by July 8 ? Is that correct ?

      Anyway I am sure you will have fun and learn a lot along the way.

      Here is a free video that will augment your first post - I have another dedicated to what to look for in purchasing second hand containers that might be of value later.

      http://www.containerhome.info/tutorial-1.html

Update #1: CAD Model #1

Posted on June 15, 2011

Howdy,

I've uploaded the initial CAD model of the shipping container to Sketchup. You can see an animation below, and the model is available for download here . Enjoy; please let me know any questions and share with anybody else who might be interested!

Thanks for your support,

Luke 

  • Video-40505-h264_high

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      theotherd on June 15, 2011

      can i ask what the purpose of going on top of the container is?

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      Luke Iseman on June 15, 2011

      hi theotherd,

      the top of the container will definitely serve as a rooftop deck and possibly some food-generation setups (fermentation, partial sunlight plants, and aquaponics are the 3 main possibilities for that space i'm curently considering)

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      Container Home on June 28, 2011

      Remember that you are going to have to significantly reinforce the container roof to take advantage of the space.

      The roof of a container has been designed to support only the weight of two men working on the roof for repairs of maintenance - ie 200kG and this reinforcement is going to take a lot of space if you intend to pack it down for relocation.

      This video might assist - entitled anatomy of a shipping container, it covers roof construction in some detail.

      http://www.containerhome.info/tutorial-2.html

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This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on July 8, 2011.

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I will visit your site, within the continental u.s., at my own expense and spend a weekend helping you with your sustainability project. Includes ebook, video, and signed printed book.

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I make things, and I particularly like building stuff related to sustainability. My 2 most interesting projects thus far have been Garduino, an Arduino-powered garden, and my fleet of 25 pedicabs. I've also fixed up a house that by all logic should have been torn down and written a book about my global wanderings.

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